NSW Boat Licence Renewal - How Long Should I Renew For?

syousef on 13/02/2018 - 15:51
Last edited 13/02/2018 - 16:04

I'm 43 and I've lived in NSW all my life. For the past 12 years or so I've held an NSW boat licence. I've used it a handful of times and could have gotten away without having one. I don't get to go boating as often as I'd like. I'm not super fit and have some medical issues which mean I have to get signed off by a doctor every year, but they're currently under control and not a cause for concern at this stage.

I do want to renew my boat licence but I'm struggling to decide between a 5 year renewal and a 10 year. The prices are.

1 Year $60.00
3 Year $161.00
5 Year $253.00
10 year $451.00

A bit more of a break down
Savings off 1 year price assuming I keep it for the 10 years.
3 year = $6.33/yr = 11%
5 year = $9.40/yr = 16%
10 year = $14.90/yr = 25%

Money isn't paycheck to paycheck but I am certainly not rich and I support 2 children and my wife only does casual work. Also saving to replace my wife's 2003 Falcon wagon. The risk is if I go for a 10 year licence it's possible I may move or not be medically fit towards the end of 10 years. I certainly don't have money to donate to RMS. On the other hand locking in a licence and not worrying about it for 10 years sounds great.

Looking for opinions on what I should do.

Poll Options expired

  • 2
    Get a 1 year boat license
  • 4
    Get a 3 year boat license
  • 4
    Get a 5 year boat license
  • 9
    Get a 10 year boat license and don't worry about it
Sports & Outdoors

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 13/02/2018 - 17:01

    Don’t renew, sell boat, upgrade the car.

    • syousef on 13/02/2018 - 17:29

      I don't own a boat. Should have been clearer. My in laws own a boat and I rent them from time to time, but mostly boats that don't require a license. I like having the license. Thanks for your input though. Much appreciated.

      • [Deactivated] on 13/02/2018 - 17:58

        mostly boats that don't require a license. I like having the license

        do you want to drive boats over 10 knots or not? if you're not going over it then dont bother.

        • syousef on 13/02/2018 - 19:05

          Absolutely do. A lot of the rental boats at places like The Entrance are purposely kept under limits for speed and horsepower though, which is why I don't NEED it.

        • [Deactivated] on 13/02/2018 - 20:12

          @syousef:
          Decision made

  • Toons on 13/02/2018 - 17:41

    Don't they refund if you have to hand it back due to medical reasons.

    I'd go the 10 years and then it's done and if you weren't to renew one year because you were unable to because of poor health you don't get dragged through the verification process that you may get subjected to over and above the medical.

    Sometimes they are just easier to keep and costs less than if you had to reacquire should you need it.

    I know it's hard to do when you're in that kind of position (just from what you said medically) but use it as something positive that you can do live your life and enjoy the things you like when you can.

  • Master Bates on 13/02/2018 - 17:55

    Worth noting that the prices probably rise every year, so the shorter terms will be even more expensive in the long run.

    • syousef on 13/02/2018 - 19:06

      Yep I'd thought of that as well.

  • tsunamisurfer on 13/02/2018 - 18:22

    OP…you are agonising over between $6 - $15 per year.

    It also seems to me that you enjoy the idea of having a licence rather than using the licence, in which case your health is not a factor here and 10 years would be the preferable option.

    • syousef on 13/02/2018 - 19:07

      You are required by law to notify if you have a medical issue and since RMS handles driver's licenses I imagine there would be cross checking. Wouldn't risk that. Want it or not, if I'm not medically fit, I don't get to keep it. Bigger fish to fry then anyway as I'd have to work in a different office (but could probably stay with same employer). Where I work at the moment the only practical way to get there is car, and it's 15 mins away when there's no traffic.

  • wordplay on 13/02/2018 - 20:23

    do all other states charge for a boat license??, was a one off fee when I did it in SA

  • Euphemistic on 13/02/2018 - 21:10

    Go 5yr. Tieing up $200 now for year 5-10 ‘just in case’ doesn’t seem the best option. If you aren’t fit to operate a boat in 5years you haven’t lost $200 and if you can operate one, then you can renew them easily.

    • syousef on 13/02/2018 - 21:28

      I guess the only risk there is if they become harder to renew in 5 years but what you say certainly makes sense.

      • Euphemistic on 13/02/2018 - 22:05

        If all they do for car licence renewal is test your eyesight, then they are not going to do much more for boaties in the next 5 years.

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